Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Multiple circuit control – Combined pivoted and reciprocating contact
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-22
2003-08-26
Scott, J. R. (Department: 2832)
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Multiple circuit control
Combined pivoted and reciprocating contact
C200S0110TC, C200S305000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06610937
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an operating device having a static eliminator, and to an electronic apparatus having the operating device.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known in the related art that an electronic apparatus, such as a camera, usually has a switch button in the center of a dial provided for selecting a plurality of operation modes, so that it is possible to make the electronic apparatus compact and improve its operational performance.
FIG. 3
is a cross sectional view showing an example of a conventional dial device.
As shown in
FIG. 3
, the conventional dial device comprises a dial
51
, and a base member
52
for holding the dial
51
. A brush plate
53
, which rotates together with the dial
51
and is provided with a brush
53
a
, can be brought into contact with patterns formed on a flexible plate
54
so as to select one mode of operation from among a plurality of modes. A button
55
slides up and down along the center axis of the dial
51
, by virtue of a center shaft
55
a
, so as to contact a contact switch
57
, and is urged upward by a spring
56
. Claw portions
55
b
and
55
c
serve as retaining means for preventing the button
55
from sliding off the dial device. Reference numerals
58
and
59
represent frame members that support an electronic apparatus carrying the dial device.
On the other hand, since the trend in recent years has been to make electronic apparatuses compact, it is required that the dial be made as small as possible. Furthermore, in most cases the dial, as well as the button, are made of plastic which is an insulating material.
When the surfaces of the dial and the button get close to the brush and the contact switch, static electricity borne on the body of a human operator will surge into the electronic apparatus through the surfaces of the brush and the contact switch, which are both made of an insulating material, thus adversely and undesirably affecting internal electronic circuitry of an electronic apparatus.
The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an improved dial device having a static eliminator capable of allowing any static electricity which surges through the button to escape to ground. Another object of the invention is to provide an electronic apparatus equipped with such an improved dial device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to achieve the above objects, a first embodiment of an operating device of the present invention comprises a dial, a rotary conductive member rotatable together with the dial, and a fixed conductive member fixed in an electronic apparatus holding the operating device and in contact with the rotary conductive member.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to an electronic apparatus containing an operating device which comprises a dial, a rotary conductive member rotatable together with the dial, and a fixed conductive member fixed in the electronic apparatus holding the operating device and in contact with the rotary conductive member.
In a further aspect, the present invention relates to an operating apparatus comprising a dial, an operating button provided in a recess portion of the center of the dial, a rotary conductive member engaged between the recess portion of the center of the dial and the operating button, and having a strip projecting from the recess portion of the center of the dial and a fixed circular conductive member provided in an electronic apparatus holding the operating device, and disposed between the dial and the electronic apparatus with the center of the dial serving as its center axis, so as to make contact with the strip of the rotary conductive member.
In still a further aspect, the present invention relates to an electronic apparatus having an operating device which comprises a dial, an operating button provided in a recess portion of the center of the dial; a rotary conductive member engaged between the recess portion of the center of the dial and the operating button, and having a strip projecting from the recess portion of the center of the dial; and a fixed circular conductive member provided in an electronic apparatus holding the operating device, and disposed between the dial and the electronic apparatus with the center of the dial serving as its center axis, so as to make contact with the strip of the rotary conductive member.
Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3566049 (1971-02-01), Wright
patent: 4196324 (1980-04-01), Kojima et al.
patent: 5401926 (1995-03-01), Aoyama et al.
patent: 5886310 (1999-03-01), Kataoka et al.
patent: 5952628 (1999-09-01), Sato et al.
patent: 6020563 (2000-02-01), Risk, Jr.
patent: 6229103 (2001-05-01), Yamamoto et al.
patent: 6236002 (2001-05-01), Chou
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Scott J. R.
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